At least 65 die in northern Algeria wildfires

Algerian state media reported on Wednesday that at least 65 people had died due to wildfires that were ravaging the northern region of the country, Reuters reported.

Of the 65 people who had died, 28 were soldiers who had assisted the country in fighting the wildfires. The death toll saw a notable uptick since Tuesday when 42 locals and soldiers were reported dead, The New York Times reported.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said that the country would hold three national days of mourning.

France and Morocco have already pledged to assist the country. French President Emmanuel Macron said that two water bombers would be sent to Kabylie, a region of Algeria where the wildfires have become the most pronounced, according to Reuters.

Morrocan King Mohammed VI said his country would provide several aircraft to the country and was waiting to get the green light for Algerian officials.

Algeria, Greece and Turkey have seen a surge of wildfires as the countries experienced hotter temperatures, Reuters noted. Thousands in Greece have already had to evacuate their homes as the country has seen over 100 wildfires envelope parts of the country.

Some officials in Greece and Europe believe that the wildfires seen in parts of Turkey and Greeces are due to climate change as temperatures peak well above 100 F, The Associated Press reported.

Across the West, the U.S. has also watched fires destroy areas and even towns.

In one California town, a wildfire ripped through buildings as some 5,000 firefighters struggled to contain the flames that had burned through over 278,000 acres over the span of at least three weeks. 

“We lost Greenville tonight,” Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) said in a Facebook video last week. “There’s just no words.”